Market Place

Digital Access

Home Delivery

Want to make sure you receive the latest local news? We’ve got you covered! Get the best in local news, sports, community events, with focus on what’s coming up for the weekend. Weekly mail subscription offers

Joan Knows: Celebrating good times passed, events to come

Hope you all had a good Father’s Day experience. Probably many had special meals, did some grilling and provided pop’s favorite dessert.

At our house, we went for Plan B. Mister Z’s comrades from his various memberships can report he can usually come up with a main dish – road kill, raccoon (tastes like chicken) or skunk (garlic overcomes the odor). Our goal was that he relax, so we ordered-out.

There was high praise for the chicken (tasted just like it should) from Ka-Bobs on West Main Street. The no-fuss meal took the trail to nearby Dunkin’ Donuts for great coffee and a cheerful wave from Sonny and a dash across the street for some Oberweis vanilla ice cream to go with the strawberries.

Strawberries! The granddaddy of delicious crops ready in June! Head out to Norton’s farmstand just west of St. Charles. Tomatoes that taste like actual ripe tomatoes are available, as are lots of bedding plants and hanging baskets. (Hint: a choice for a summer birthday.)

Strawberries were all gone the next day, but the timely arrival of a famous Betty Ericson pecan pie from the UMW Pies for Pops sale was reason to keep celebrating.

Another celebration is due for Joe Schelstreet, new St. Charles fire chief. He merited this appointment as a local guy who came up through the ranks. High five, Joe!

Speaking of hometown news, there’s time left to get involved with the Heritage Center next week on Saturday June 29, as it holds a major fundraising event, including a pig roast and silent auction. That’s the same weekend that Dunkin’ Donuts is having a grand re-opening party, which includes special prices, games and prizes. Cholesterol aside, both events could make you smile.

There must have been a full moon last week. That traditional presumption that loony behaviors breaks out with lunar regularity led to some interesting anecdotes. Names are changed to protect the innocent.

A retired school teacher with a flower name set out to the Delnor complex for a yearly doctor’s appointment. When she arrived – no such physician. In fact, not any physicians. Last I heard, she was telephoning, on hold, seeking a reroute and an explanation. How about a post card, you guys?

Another friend, who spells her name with a “y” was seeking to claim the warranty on her mattress, which turned out to have a deep hole. She was visited by a “mattress technologist” who arrived at her door armed with a camera, measuring devices and advanced toward the padded resting place with the air of a surgeon. The minimum size for a hole was two inches and the presenting defect was well beyond the limit! A replacement mattress is on the way, Cheers for the underdog. Boo on the MT.

Finally, one morning my email included a message from the St. Charles Park District. The good news was that I had been successfully registered for the forthcoming life saver course.

The bad new was a list of necessary qualifying feats, such as treading water without using your arms, diving for a brick, etc. I replied, stating my age and wheelchair status and added for effect that I would no doubt scare anyone who saw me in a bathing suit. All I got back was a terse message saying “some may have gotten the message in error.”

I guess I was kind of hoping they would try to talk me into it.

• Joan Arteberry is a longtime resident of St. Charles. Her columns are featured in the Kane County Chronicle’s Neighbors section every other Friday.Write to her at editorial@kcchronicle.com.

build your "team for the ages" and you could win a trip to the Big Game!

Pick your roster of the 50 greatest players of the past 50 years for a chance at great prizes, including a trip to the 2019 Big Game!